UAE to launch "remote sensing" satelite
29 Apr 2008 | 12:24 BST
Nothing to do with intel
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES has disclosed plans to launch a remote sensing satellite, according to a Senior Military official.
Brigadier Khalifa Mohammad Al Rumaithi, told Gulf News of plans to launch a satellite in conjunction with other GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE).
Speaking at the Defence Geospatial Intelligence conference, the UAE’s Chief of Military Works at the Armed Forces, noted that a lot of progress has already been made on the Satellite, dubbed Dubai sat1, which the UAE says is for peaceful and civilian purposes only.
It will purportedly be able to help the country with urban development planning and infrastructure by providing accurate maps and be useful in management of potential natural disasters. It's not for spying, honest.
It was only last year in November that Abu Dhabi’s Mubdala Development (funded by the government) bought 8.1 per cent of AMD for between $550 and $700 million.
It seems that as the oil runs out, the Gulf nations are edging towards diversifying their investments, and putting the emphasis on technology. With the new satellite coming soon, all we can say is, watch this space. µ
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